On Tuesday, the softball team took the field to play against Rutgers-Camden for a double header. Even though Rutgers defeated the Roadrunners in both games, Ramapo held it together until the end.
The Scarlet Raptors won 2-1 in the first game and 6-3 in game two, earning them a perfect 4-0 record in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Ramapo is now 0-2 in the conference.
Camden started the first game off with an immediate 1-0 lead with an RBI grounder. It wasn't until the bottom of the second when Ramapo freshman Nicole Hernandez hit a single to left field, allowing sophomore Danielle Saporito to run home and score.
In the top of the seventh inning, Raptors sophomore pitcher Brittany Scott hit an infield ball, leading junior Devon Walsh from third base to home and winning the game 2-1.
Both pitchers played well, but Scott won it for the Raptors. She struck out five players and walked five while only letting up five hits. Ramapo senior pitcher Harley Masiello struck out three and walked two. Both pitchers worked hard and kept their heads in the game.
The second game started out well for the Roadrunners, coming out with an early 2-0 lead. In the top of the second, Rutgers made two runs to tie it, but then Ramapo made a head up play to get the runner out at home. In the bottom of the second, Rutgers had their head in the game and did the job quickly and smoothly, making for a quick inning.
Over the rest of the game, Rutgers made four more runs on the Roadrunners ending the game 6-3. With this loss, Ramapo fell to a 5-8 overall.
"All the cancelations and not being able to play a game since Florida definitely affected us today," said Ramapo head coach Bridgette Quimpo. "Overall, I felt we hit the ball well today but we just hit it right at them. Our pitching in the first game put us in a position to win, but we just couldn't get it done with runners in scoring position. This season is going to be all about playing good defense, solid pitching and timely hitting."
Quimpo said that the young team and coaching staff is going through a process of feeling each other out, and said that she expects better results as the season progresses.
"It is tough taking a young team two months right before the season starts. Just as the players are just getting to learn our coaching style and philosophy, we as coaches are also still learning about our players and what our personnel is," she said. "We have been process oriented and learning so many different aspects of the game each day. Our goal is to get one percent better each day, and we are hoping to play our best midway through season."
This is Quimpo's first season as the bench boss for the Ramapo softball team. She hopes to lead the Roadrunners in a return to the NJAC tournament after the team failed to qualify last season.
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cstedges@ramapo.edu
